The Supreme Court Ohio Annual Report

Advisory Committee
on Court Security
& Emergency
Preparedness
James P. Cappelli
staff liaison
Walter Brown
Tom Chidester
Donald Colby
James Dwertman
Peter J. Elliott
Nancy McClatchy
Hon. Matthew McFarland
Hon. Deborah Nicastro
Hon. Maureen O’Connor,
chair
Hon. Mike Powell
Hon. Dana Preisse
Ken Roll
George Romanoski
Dottie Tuttle
James Wahlrab
Office of Court Security
The Office of Court Security provides physical and personnel
security at the Ohio Judicial Center; continuity of operations
planning; security training and physical security assessments
for local courts; and security consulting services for judges
throughout Ohio.
The Office of Court Security is responsible for the security
of the Ohio Judicial Center and the safety of all staff and
visitors. In 2009, Court security officers conducted more than
49,000 security screenings of visitors during business hours and
after-hours events at the Ohio Judicial Center, as well as at the
Paulding County Off-Site Court session. All Supreme Court
security officers are certified in first aid and two are certified as
first responders. Security officers also provide training to local
courts on security screening equipment (X-Ray equipment and
magnetometers) and Taser certification.
The marshal attends to the ceremonial duties within the
Courtroom and provides personal protection for the Justices
while they conduct official business within the state. As manager
of the Inappropriate Communications program, the marshal
handles all forms of communication that require monitoring or
coordination with federal or other state offices.
Advisory Committee on Court Security
& Emergency Preparedness
The Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Security
& Emergency Preparedness is chaired by Justice Maureen
O’Connor and provides ongoing advice to the Chief Justice
on issues of safety and security in courts and courthouses
throughout the state. The advisory committee also assists in
the development of emergency preparedness and continuity of
operations plans by courts.
During 2009, the committee updated and expanded the
security standards in Appendix C (Court Security Standards)
of the Rules of Superintendence for Ohio Courts, created
and deployed a training program for statewide continuity of
operations planning and continued work with the Ohio Peace
Officer Training Academy to update training requirements
for Ohio bailiffs. The advisory committee published a Court
Continuity of Operations Program Guide and a Court
Continuity of Operations Plan template to assist local courts in
developing their continuity of operations plans, as required by
Sup. R. 9 and Appendix C.
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